Anterior tooth and backing



f{z.HANscoM. ANTERIORTOOTH AND BACKING. MPLICATON H LD DEC. 3, 1917.

1,385,734. Immun. 6,1920.

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www g 011g' n I?) 5MM FRANK Z. HANSCOIVI, OF ELMI-IURST, ILLINOIS.

ANTERIOR TOOTH AND BACKING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Application led December 3, 1917. Serial No. 205,290@

To all ywhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK Z. HANsooM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmhurst, in the county of Dupag'e, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anterior Teeth and Backings., of which the following is a specification,

This invention relates more particularly to the form or construction of anterior teeth and to the means for supportingthe same, and also to the method or arrangement whereby the backings may be securely united, as in making bridge-work. Artificial teeth of this character, such as are commonly provided, are nearly always formed with a view of their being ground ofi' at the cutting edge in order to properly fit the backings thereto, and it always requires a comparatively large amount of special grinding and fitting in order to fit the backings and properly solder or secure the-backings together. The soldering process and any subsequent grindingV or finishing of their cutting edges is apt to bruise, check or crack the porcelain facings or teeth proper.

Among the objects of my invention are; to provide anterior teeth made of porcelain or other suitable material which are so constructed that they will require comparatively little grinding, but which may be readily ground in order to fit them to standard sized backings; to provide suitable backings which may be made' in standard sizes by stamping from tough resisting sheet metal. or in other suitable manner; to provide means for readily securing the teeth or facings to the backings, an'd in general to provide an improved construction of this char' acter such as will be more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is, a side view of an anterior `tooth or facing;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of thel backing;

Fig. fl is a horizontal sectional view showing the tooth in position in the backing;

' and, V

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating-the vide a tooth or facing 6, which represents any of the anterior teeth, but which for convenience 'in description may be considered as an upper tooth. This tooth is preferably made relatively thick through its upper portion and convergesA toward the lower or cutting edge 7. The yback or engaging portion 8 of the -tooth is substantially rectangular and flat on its rear surface with its sides and ends tapered or beveled toward the sides and ends of the tooth as clearly indicated in Figs. l and 2. The back is provided with a hole 9 for receiving a pin 10, which pin is secured to the hacking 11. The backing l'l has a flat portion 12 corresponding with the fiat surface on the back of the tooth and is provided with diverging sides 13 for engagement with the sides of the rear portion of the tooth and a diverging end 14 for engagement With beveled lower portion or cutting edge of the tooth. The backing is preferably left open at its upper end so that the upper end of the tooth and the adjacent edges of the backingmay be ground to any extent desired.

The teeth or facings 6 are preferably made in standard sizes to meet the ordinary requirements of the dental profession, and the backings ,are made by stamping, or other wise in standard sizes, to correspond with the different sized facings. It is well understood that it is exceedingly dilicult, if not impossible, to make porcelain teeth or fac ings which are absolutely of uniform size, even if made from the same mold, and with the forms of teeth heretofore proposed, it has been exceedingly diflicult, if not iinpossible to readily tit the teeth into standard sized backings. With my improved construction it will be seen that the engaging surfaces are all substantially flat and, if there is a slight variation in these surfaces, they may be readily ground so as to fit the teeth or facings to the backings. It will he particularly noted that. when the teeth are fitted in the backings, the lower sidelt of the backing comes over the cutting edge of the tooth so as to protect such cutting edge` and it is the intention that the teeth will then be. set so that no grinding is necessary at this end of the. tooth. hut all of the grinding may be done at the opposite end of the tooth. This arrangement will pre-` vent the liability of cracking or checking and will also make a more substantial cutting edge. When my improved teeth with their backings are to be connected together as in making a bridge, it will be noted that a substantially triangular space iis left between the opposed sides 13 of the backings of two adjacent teeth. This space is clearly shown in Fig. 5, which also indicates'thesolder 15, which is fiowed into this space and over the backings in order to unite the teeth. This comparatively large triangular space permits a substantial amount of solder to enter in between the backings and greatly.

strengthens the support or bridge, as the solder assumes the gener-al form of a bar with a plurality of triangular ridges on the v.outer side thereof, which ridges add greatly to the strength of the bar, as well as serving to hold the backings securely in position. y

In ordinary practice my improved facings with the backings thereon will be fitted to the model, the acings then removed and the backings properly invested, and soldered together. The facings will then be pressed into position Ain the backings and will be held by the pins 10 and suitable cement which may be used for cementing them intothe backings. By means ot .this arrangement it will be seen that the teeth are not subjected to the heat which has a tendency to crack the same. v

Fromv the above description it will be readily seen that I provide a substantial form of teeth and backings which may be vreadily made in large numbers'l for commercial purposes, and which may be utilized by the practising dentists with a compara- Y tively small amount of work.

Having thus described my invention, what f FRANK z. HANsooM. 

